ILLUMINATION Writers
Interview with Chelsea Mandler Mat
Featuring creative writers of ILLUMINATION
The purpose of this story is to share with you an interview that I conducted with Chelsea Mandler MAT.
Chelse is relatively a new writer on ILLUMINATION however, she is not new to writing, blogging, educating, consulting, and editing. CR has a Master’s degree in Teaching, is a certified Language Arts Teacher, and is a Writing Consultant. Her remarkable stories inspire our readers. CR is a reputable writer on ILLUMINATION, engaging meaningfully with our writers and supporting their content on Medium. Let’s explore the background of this successful writer, teacher, editor, and writing consultant!
Tell us a bit about your background.
Many ask me how I survived the trauma of childhood and adult experiences. My mother left when I was ten, my dad was an addict that worked at the Hollywood studios. And I was left to raise myself at the early age of five. The truth is I survived because I never considered myself a victim. Being accountable saved my life in countless ways, and it has me to meet each challenge with strength.
As a young girl, writing became my outlet for escaping the brutality that I faced every day. Now, writing is what truly makes me feel most alive.
In my adult life, I have danced on American Bandstand, served as an elected School board Member, been honored to be a US Diplomat and learned to embrace being loved because I know I am accountable for my life. My endeavors in writing will hopefully be just a s successful because accountability brings rewards when I step out of my own way.
Why do you write on Medium?
Initially, I wrote my own blog at Superchels.com. I freelance and I work as a Writing Specialist for secondary education. However, when COVID hit and I knew that I would unravel unless I began to write on a daily basis.
I found Medium through an old friend whose stories were curated immediately. It was easy and I joined. But what I did not expect was the comradely among the writers and the readers in this venue.
I now regularly interact with like-minded people whose mission is to write. I believe I found my home.
What are your values as a writer?
I value raw, unedited, honesty and the ability to share my vulnerabilities with anyone. I avoid opinions in all that I do because I value experience. Therefore, whatever, I write, I once lived. I am not going to apologize for my defects of character anymore. “Sink into yourself” as a writer and success will follow. That is my motto and practice.
What are the top three books affected your life?
By far, “A Man’s Search For Meaning,” by Viktor Frankl affected me like no other book before. He shared a horrendous experience of living in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. But, what he taught his reader is that the only part of yourself that no one can take from you is your attitude. And even more importantly he convinced me that “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how,” Frankl explains (adreaskluth.org). That is all I needed to know to make in this world.
My second top book is “Victoria Finds a Way to Die,” by Paulo Coelho, the writer of “The Alchemist.” Victoria is a young woman who tries to end her life only to find herself in a mental institution. While she is there, away from social norms, she finds new aspects of her personality that radiate. However, she still wants to die.
Coehlo is brilliant when he decides that all the other characters in the mental institution will be affected by her presence. And in the end, the patients flourish and leave the confounds of safety to reunite in the outside world again. Victoria joins them and the reader becomes inspired to embrace their idiosyncrasies and truly become whole.
Lastly, “Self Reliance,” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I used to have this book under my bed so I could grab it at any known minute.
Emerson summarizes my goal as a successful human when he writes, “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether be a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success.” (goodreads.com).
What are your hobbies?
It is fair to say that people who spend their lives on drugs do not have hobbies. Everything they do is covered in a hazy numbness. Drugs are their distractions, their God, and all they think about. Recovering addicts have a hard time figuring out what to do with their time.
Therefore, my hobbies are new founded. I love to swim, walk, and think. Not in that order.
How do you connect with your readers?
The easiest way to connect with readers is to discuss topics of which they do not dare speak.
I have countless readers connecting with me and thanking me for being honest about the slippery slopes of my minds, my pain and my courage.
However, with technical writing, connections are formed if the writer learns something about a subject that they did not know.
Why did you join ILLUMINATION and how do you find it so far?
Illumination seemed to be the only publication that actually had big goals. I always want to be apart of the making of something amazing. But Illumination is amazing on its own already.
The editors encourage the writers, celebrate their success, and show firm interest in their stories. I have worked for many editors in the past, and Illuminations editors are the antithesis of the “typical” uptight, brass and emboldened editors I have known.
Hurray for the team at Illumination!
Who are the top ten writers you follow on ILLUMINATION?
My top ten writers on Illumination are as follows:
What are your top five stories that you want to share with your audience and why?
I shared this poem with Illumination readers because it is extremely touching and tends to evoke a lot of emotion. Plus, I think it got overlooked.
This was once a promo ad for Jason Mraz that got scratched. But after writing it, I felt like I had just had sex and I needed a cigarette, and I do not even smoke!
The Anthem of The Wild Woman
Don’t compromise yourself, you are all you got. Janis Joplin
medium.com
This piece analyzes what is currently happening today through the use of dopamine surges controlled by corporations and the government. It is an important read if you are interested in learning what is happening to our culture behind the scenes.
If it was not true, many would not believe it. But throughout my 47 years, I have lost every family member I have to drugs and alcohol. An entire family was wiped out. This is a story about a high risk family and the consequences that follow.
Finally apiece with some humor!!! This story is not meant to be taken seriously but to be enjoyed. The reader can decide if it is true or not.
What are the success factors for you as a writer on Medium?
Boundless freedom awaits a writer on Medium. Medium is a collection of every idea, concept, revelation and advice anyone can select. Medium lacks a specific criteria for its writers other than writing well. Being able to write openly, makes Medium publication is so unique. And if you know me, freedom wins every time.
What do you recommend to the new writers on ILLUMINATION?
The new visionaries of Illumination are given several ways to communicate with each other. Use them. Through comments, highlighting or The Slack Channel, the opportunities to network and meet people not by situation but by ideas is magnificent.
Use best practices when you write but dare to dwell outside the box on Illumination. It is a publication of unlimited enjoyment- where you are welcomed to join the group at any step of your writing process.
What are your future plans as a writer?
Well, I started in my own writing consultant business in the past week. The website is not even up and I have many new clients. I plan to dare to dream bigger and bigger and to know my worth as a writer.
Whatever the future holds…I will be writing in any capacity because writing beckons my soul to create and inspire.
Thank you for your valuable time CR Mandler. I enjoy reading your remarkable stories on ILLUMINATION frequently. Your artistic, writing, and educational capabilities are appealing and inspirational to me and our readers. I appreciate your wonderful support to our publication, writers, and readers. You are gem on Medium to be discovered by many readers soon.
You can connect with CR Mandler on her Medium profile.
If you are a writer on ILLUMINATION and would like to be interviewed, please send a request via this link with title of “Interview Request”.
Connect with other engaging writers
You may also check other interviews I conducted with inspiring writers of ILLUMINATION recently. These stories can provide a great opportunity to know more about our creative writers and connect with them.
These reputable writers are gems of ILLUMINATION!
You can find inspiring profiles of ILLUMINATION writers from this story.
Meet our top writers!
More information about our publication:
Invitation to writers to join ILLUMINATION
If you want to join our growing, enjoyable, and supportive publication as a writer, please leave a message via this link. We help you become a successful writer on Medium.
Twitter — Facebook — LinkedIn — Flipboard- YouTube- Pinterest
You might check more interviews in the attached collection.
You can find inspiring profiles of ILLUMINATION writers from this story.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
About the Author
Thank you for subscribing to my content. I share my health and well-being stories in my publication, Euphoria. If you are new to Medium, you may join by following this link. A small part of your membership fee will not only support my writing, but your reading times can support many great writers on this platform.
I see opportunities endless for readers and writers on Medium. You can join my publications as a writer requesting access via this weblink.
In addition to self-improvement, leadership, technology, and health, I also enjoy writing about essential molecules such as lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, digestive enzymes, magnesium, creatine, choline, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, CoQ10, NADH, TMG, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, and other nutrients for health and fitness.